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Trial of accused killer of NFL’s Sean Taylor set to begin

REMEMBERING TAYLOR: Fans leave remembrances at a painted number 21, the number of the late Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylo,r on the grass at the site of a memorial outside of FedEx Stadium before the Redskins/Buffalo Bills football game, Sunday, Dec. 2, 2007 in Landover, Md. Photo: Associated Press/AP Photo/Nick Wass

MIAMI (Reuters) – Jury selection is due to begin in Miami on Tuesday in the trial of the man accused of being the triggerman in the killing of Washington Redskins star defensive player Sean Taylor in 2007.

Taylor, a University of Miami standout chosen by the Redskins in the 2004 National Football League draft, was killed during an attempted burglary at his home south of Miami, in the Palmetto Bay area.

Intruders broke into Taylor’s home and one of them shot him in the groin during a confrontation. He suffered massive blood loss and died at a hospital a day later.

Prosecutors have accused Eric Rivera, 23, of firing the fatal shot. He was charged with first-degree murder and armed burglary, and could face life in prison if convicted.

Rivera is one of five defendants charged with murder, home invasion and burglary and will be the first to face a jury.

The defendants were arrested in Fort Myers, Florida, a few days after the shooting. Investigators said at that time that the intruders had planned to burglarize Taylor’s house and were surprised to find him there.

The Miami Herald reported that jury selection was due to begin on Tuesday before Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Dennis Murphy, who has imposed a gag order on prosecutors and defense lawyers to reduce pretrial publicity that could make it harder to find unbiased jurors.